Britain’s Prince William opened the Imperial War Museum’s new World War I galleries yesterday (17.07.14).
The 32-year-old royal, and former army helicopter pilot, was greeted by museum officials as he arrived at the official opening of the London attraction following its £40million revamp.
The Duke of Cambridge spent the day examining the galleries with the help of young guides and even helped to put one of the exhibits together, donning protective handwear as he placed leather gloves belonging to First World War pilot Major James McCudden into a case, which also displayed his military jacket.
Speaking at the opening, William said: "The impact the conflict had in distorting and destroying young lives makes it particularly appropriate that young people have been invited to help with the displays in these new galleries – invited to imagine what their great-great grandparents experienced."
Prince William – who has 12-month-old son Prince George with wife Duchess Catherine – is patron of the Imperial War Museum’s First World War Cenetary Campaign and the new galleries alone cost £20million and feature more than 1,300 objects, of which many have never before been seen by the public.
The museum is aiming to tell the complete story of the war, from it’s outbreak in 1914, to it’s end in 1918 and the effect it’s had up until the present day.
The new exhibition opens to the general public tomorrow (19.07.14).
Britain’s Prince William opens museum galleries
